Koss Porta Pro Review
On Ear Stereo Headphones
Introduction
In this article, we delve into a detailed analysis of 392,888 user reviews from various languages worldwide to examine the Koss Porta Pro. This analysis is performed by the RR artificial intelligence and updated daily with newly submitted reviews. The RR AI utilizes a complex algorithm to first scrutinize user reviews for credibility, filtering out unreliable ones. It then proceeds to dissect and evaluate the valuable insights within these reviews, providing users with ratings regarding the features of this product. Based on these assessments, users can make informed decisions about whether this product is suitable for them or not.
Ratings Based on Features
These results are a summary of user reviews of the Koss Porta Pro. For example, 90% of 200,070 users who have commented on the Sound quality of the Koss Porta Pro have given positive feedback.
Highlighted Customer Reviews
Showing 1 to 20 of 133 Reviews
Cheap but Quality
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by cubezz on B&H Photo Video
I have known these headphones for years, now I just bought a pair as a spare set I can give to my mom for her to watch TV, or take with me when I'm in need of portability or at risk of losing stuff (you know. Like a drinking rampage situation). The sound, of course, outclasses anything in the $30-50 range. Closest comparison I have are Senn HD 238 I used to have, made with a bit of a different approach to the listening experience, but similar qualities and standard. But these are twice the cost of the Pros. The Pros have a typical Koss audiophile sensation to them, with wide, in this case open, well projected tones. The spatial quality and precision of tone could be more pronounced, but I guess it could be asking too much from headphones that cheap that have also been in the market for presumably more than 20 years. In general, the Koss earphones I had the pleasure of listening, excelled at producing expressive patches of sound, perfect for any kind of popular music, exceptionally for electronic, which I'm a huge fan of. Portapro are no exception to this, music is pervaded with this special feel. One advantage of this product is portability. The earpieces can be folded, and the metal band can be reduced to minimum length for mobility. Put it in the leather bag you're supplied with and your headphones are packed into a pocket-sized gadget. As for comfort, the minimalistic recipe makes them one of the most lightweight accessories I've ever had - that's a big plus. Despite what they look like, they don't pinch or rub against ears or head, the metal band too is rather comfy (unless, from what I've heard, you have long hair - then it may tug at them. Earpieces have a quite delicate feeling to the ears. You can also adjust them to 3 settings (firm, balanced, light) in case they were too tight; to me, an everyday closed headphones user, the firm setting is light enough. The Pros also differ from most available headphones in their outlook. The design was probably very fashionable in the 80s, when they emerged (at least from what I know), now it may seem a bit outdated, but it doesn't trouble me. For most part it's a minimalistic contrast of black plastic and pads, silver metal and blue buttons and finish of the earpieces. It may seem beautiful to some, and cheesy to others, to me it's just not outstanding but for sure characteristic. I tend to like them. To summarize the above, I would definitely advise anybody to buy them for their sound. It's a good choice whether you're looking to save as much money as possible and still get great sound, or to buy a second pair for any reason, like different sound, different use, etc. ... More
Supremely Durable, and they sound fantastic to boot
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Knux on B&H Photo Video
These headphones have survived being a part of my daily ensemble for 7 months, which is unrivaled by a factor of 2. On top of that, they show no wear aside from minor deformation in the cheaply and easily replaceable foam earpads. This despite my throwing them across a room to demonstrate their robustness, which I've done 4 times. I don't wear glasses, but all my friends that do say that these headphones are fantastic, as the gap in the cushioning accommodates glasses and makes it so that it's comfortable to wear glasses and headphones at the same time. This report has been backed by 3 friends and a sibling. They are so lightweight that it is difficult to believe. 60 grams, or 2.12 oz to my fellow Americans. That's half as much as the average baseball cap. They probably cause less neck strain than my ponytail. The adjustability on these things is the best I've seen. They can shrink down to accommodate the heads of infants, or expand for the largest heads I've tried to put them on. They even adjust to the contour of your ears. They are Super Comfortable. I once misplaced them for 5 minutes before realizing that I was wearing them. That is how light they are, and how little pressure they exert on your head when you fit them correctly. Despite this, they stay in place well enough to go running while wearing them. The styling is not for everybody, but then again what styling is truly universal. Their aesthetic was ignored when they were designed, but they still look good due to the fact that extreme functionality has inherent form. The sound quality is utterly unmatched in the $50 or less price range, even outclassing one of the many $500 headphones my friends have let me try. Fair warning, they do not contain sound at all, and they do not occlude ambient noise in any way. They can, however, overpower ambient noise with ease. Fair warning, the cord is only 5 feet long. This makes them more durable and mitigates a frequent cause of headphone failure. ... More
Wow, the clarity, the base!!!!!!
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by TomH, by way of NC, NJ, CA, TX, FL, PL on B&H Photo Video
I just bought an Ipod Nano 6G. The stock white apple earbuds blew. I have had other earbuds for my previous mp3 players and they blew as well. I wanted a natural sounding set of headphones. The over the ear headphones from Bose and Sennheiser sounded great but just were not portable enough and were also cost prohibitive for me. I bought the Klipsch Image S4 in ear buds and also sounded great but were kind of a pain to put in because if they weren't in just right, the sound was bad, could easily fall out if snagged, and were $. I was worried that these PortaPros would feel uncomfortable on my ears since they are an on ear design. I have a big melon on my shoulders. Def look retro but don't care much about that. The treat is in the sound; it's ear candy and a pleasure to listen to any music with these. Sound all the way up and no distortion at all while your ear drums are thumping out of your skull. What a great deal; for forty dollars you get a set of fantastic headphones that can compete with the sound of Bose QC3 for 1/5th the price and a lifetime no questions asked product warranty. I have only had them for a week, so can't speak to the durability but i'm not too worried.I find the cord plenty long enough, it's slightly longer than apple's earbuds about 4 feet. They fit comfortably on my head without putting pressure on my ears because of the temple pads and the pressure adjustment switches. After 4 hours listening, they still felt comfortable.You won't want to go back to the inferior sound of the stock earphones after you listen to music with these. ... More
Amazing sound, amazing value
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by RichSound on B&H Photo Video
I had originally bought a pair of these about 6 years ago and they'd served well. I have always loved the amazing sound quality - full, clear, crisp - just what you'd expect from Koss. The only thing I needed to do to them was replace the foam earpads last year. (Replacement earpads can be had cheap over the internet.) But a few weeks ago I damaged the cord and thus needed to get a new set. So I was delighted to see the price at B&H for a replacement. And again, I'm just delighted with the feel, the sound, and the value for these on-ear phones. I use them almost exclusively connected to my phone for music, and conversations. Sometimes I use them connected to the computer for music. Just for kicks, having recently bought a pair of Sennheiser HD558 over-ears - I compared the sound of the two things on the same song (Al DiMeola's Shaking the Spirits) played from 256 kbps MP3 on my phone. The only notable sound difference was that the Sennheisers created a much wider soundstage, which is what they're designed to do. But overall frequency range, clarity, bass power -- no significant difference. That's how truly good sounding these phones are! Tremendous value, and highly recommended. I LOVE them. They're perfect for home, office, or travel. But only good on aircraft if you're in the front, since they're On-Ear and don't have noise cancelling. But if your device goes up pretty loud and you're forward of the engines, they're fine. ... More
Worth every penny!
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I will start out by stating why I give this product 4 stars instead of 5. While they handle volume without distortion to levels higher than you would expect in this price range they do not when compared to head phones that cost much more. So my 4 star rating is simply because they do not do the job of the very best and that is what I would use a the standard to measure. Now in fairness, when compared to similar head phones in the same price range, the get 5 stars. I use these mostly when I am working on the computer (laptop) in the same room others are watching TV, working, etc. The normal tones as well as speech that comes through web sites and the like are great. The real surprise is the reproduction of music. Clean crisp and clear with an amazing (though limited) base reproduction. They are very comfortable to wear and due to the foam ear pieces as opposed to a cup, you are able to hear if someone speaks to you. You can buy similar headphones for less money that will work for you but, if you are wanting to listen to music these will beat anything in it's class. I now use them on my digital player also and have chucked the small and not very good ear plugs that came with it. Highly recommended. ... More
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I now remember how good music can sound
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by College KidDudeMan on B&H Photo Video
I had seen the great reviews that these cans have received and decided to give them a chance, rather than waste more money on faulty earbuds. The sound is fantastic. Very well balanced, allowing you to easily identify individual instruments in a musical piece. Surprisingly comfortable. The pressure on your ears is just right. I have no problem wearing them for extended periods of time, or even falling asleep with them on. Very portable (Obviously, right?) Only disadvantage is that they don't block out noise, and can be somewhat quiet when there is a lot of external sound. However, they are not meant to be noise canceling or complete enclosure, so I can't really hold that against them. Also, I don't think you need to buy the replacement plan, since these headphones come with a lifetime warranty from Koss....(I didn't know that at the time of my purchase...) Just buy them and see for yourself! ... More
Great sound, but....
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Wonderful sound, but the wire will break at the connector after a few months. I've been through three pairs of these and they all had the same fate. The wire at the connector gives way, the right channel goes out, there's nothing you can do. Perfect headphones except for this fatal flaw.
Excellent, practical, and cost effective
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
As a user of Bose, Beats, and Sennheiser products, understand the weight of my words when I say these headphones are above and beyond the best pair I have ever used. For a fraction of the price of other quality headphones the Portapros seem to have no limit when it comes to frequency, searing synthesizers and thumping base both come out in absolute clarity at any volume level. As well as reaching the peaks and valleys with ease, I have not noticed any rattling of the headphones at any frequency, despite its light weight. Speaking of the weight, the portability of the headphones show ingenious design. Durable and collapsible, I was very pleased to find how easily I could take the Portapros around without fear of damaging them. I can think of only two setbacks to the headphones. First, the 3.5mm jack is smaller and appears to be somewhat more delicate than the one shown in the picture. Second, there was no mobile headset available, which would have been much preferred, when you take smartphones into consideration. Otherwise, I doubt I could find such a spectacular pair of headphones for such a remarkable price. Buy them! ... More
Great sound, lightweight and comfortable
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
I predominantly wear these to listen to music while working (graphic/web design). I was wearing a small pair of over-the-ear headphones, but they would leave painful indentations at the top of my ears after less than an hour of use. So I decided to research reviews for a new pair. Everywhere I looked, reviews said these were the best audio quality for under $50, and that they were lightweight and comfortable. I'm very happy I decided to buy the PortaPros. Great headphones with a great no-questions-asked warranty backing them. I thought the Comfort Zone feature was gimmicky at first, but setting it to Light when wearing them for an hour or more does make a difference in terms of comfort on my ears. Only negatives I've found are: even at four feet, the cord seems a bit too short; the collapsible band can sometimes catch hair (although has only happened a couple of times and never ripped the hairs all the way out). Bottom line is these are a great pair of headphones in terms of sound quality, comfort and price point. ... More
Reliable, good sound for the price
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by zakool21 on B&H Photo Video
I purchased these at the B&H store in person back in March. My other headphones are AKG K271s (also purchased from B&H in 2004) and Shure E4C IEMs. While the sound quality of the PortaPros doesn't match those of $200 head/earphones, they fill a gap in my lineup that needed to be filled. They have surprisingly good bass, especially from underpowered sound sources like smartphones and laptop headphone jacks. They allow me to wear them and hear my surroundings, which is what I purchased them for. I didn't want to get run over crossing the street in NYC while wearing my E4Cs. Downsides, of course, include noise leakage. They aren't the clearest sound-wise, but they're leagues ahead of what other $30-range head/earphones I've tried. The headband came apart once and it took me a little while to figure out how to reassemble it, but it doesn't appear that I've actually broken anything. If I had, I would have taken comfort in their lifetime, no questions asked warranty that I only heard about after I had purchased them. Highly recommended. ... More
best portable headphones for price
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
The PortaPro headphones are the best portable headphones in their price range. Sound: Nice full and warm, although the low mids are a little over-pronounced, so sometimes the melody gets a little lost in the lower register accompaniment. Not too much distortion. Good base considering they are open backed and cost less than $50. Design: The design isn't for everyone, a little retro (they have been making them for decades). They are also not super comfortable if worn for a long time, in spite of the comfort zone. The open-back design makes the sound more airy, but not idle for crowded noisy places. They are very compact, even smaller than they seem in photos, but can get very large when adjusted. For conclusion, I think the PortaPros are perfect if you are looking for affordable, good sounding portable headphones. ... More
Entertaining and well worth it
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Ron on B&H Photo Video
The Koss PortaPro are outstanding for their price and are entertaining. Some headphones are technically more advanced and cost more, but are not entertaining. These are enjoyable; excellent sound and portable. They are not meant to compete with Sennheiser's HD650 which are also entertaining, cost over 10 times as much, and sound a little better in some ways -- but who cares? Enjoyable is enjoyable. When I'm listening to these while I'm out, I don't miss any other cans because I'm too busy enjoying the music. My only con is minor and not about the headphones. The con is about the porta-bag that comes with them; a little bigger would be much easier to get the folded headphones into the bag. The bag reminds me of those silly test questions in school: design a container of minimum material that will hold a certain shape and volume. With a little thought and a lot of practice, I've learned a way to do it: hold the hook & catch together when bagging. Your results may vary. But even with the bag being a tight fit, the sound and portability are worth it. I recommend these. ... More
Comfortable & Portable
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by thisispatrick on B&H Photo Video
A coworker recommended these headphones to me. At the time I was looking for something portable and unobtrusive to use for my daily commute. He had these headphones and suggested that I try them on. It was very comfortable, and using the comfortZone function you can adjust the pressure these headphones exert on your head. I immediately ordered one for myself and have been using it every day. It may feel a bit flimsy, but holds up perfectly fine through typical daily use and abuse. The sound quality for high and mids is superb; however, the bass is a bit light for me. Other than that, these headphones are open so you'll be able to hear whatever's around you. I also use these daily at the office and haven't had any coworkers complain about them being too loud or disruptive. As for how they look, it's completely up to personal preference. At this price range and with the performance and portability it provides, these headphones are a great buy. ... More
Very Comfortable & Worthwhile!
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Haley on B&H Photo Video
I'm no audiophile, but I purchased these headphones after some research on some relatively cheap headphones with good audio quality, leading me to these headphones. I've seen mainly good things, but I saw a few iffy reviews so I was unsure whether or not they'd be what I imagined, but I can safely say they lived up to my expectations, if not surpassed them. The design is my style, the ear padding doesn't make my ears sweat like some other ear cups, and the sound quality is good, with relatively good bass, something that was an important factor for me. I'd tried some beats while journeying in person for the perfect headphones, and I can see these are far, far better than any beat solos. I also bought some $101 dollar noise cancelling headphones and these far surpassed those as well. I'm overall extremely pleased with my purchase, I would in fact recommend these to anyone looking for great headphones on a budget. ... More
My original pair lasted about 30 years.
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Gregory on B&H Photo Video
These are the best portable headphones for the money. I owned an original pair of these headphones dating back to the mid 80s and they lasted about 30 years. I finally had to replace them in 2014 after the left channel went out. Here's my tip on increasing the reliability, add a drop of super glue where the cable meets each ear piece and where the cable meets the jack. This will greatly reduce the chance of you breaking the cable if you accidentally pull on the cable too hard, which I've done numerous times. I've had my current pair for eight years and the only maintenance I do is to replace the foam ear cushions every so often as they tend to wear out over time. ... More
Best bang for buck out there.
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
These headphones are an amazing deal at $. I've listened to studio quality headphones before and I was impressed by the high quality sound that came out of this flimsy looking portable headset. The bass is nice and heavy, but it does a great job with the mids and highs as well, excellent all-around sound quality. The only gripes they have are the main reason they're so cheap: they are made of light plastic and feel so. While they are comfortable, the two plastic adjusters on the metal band can easily snag your hair while adjusting them. Sadly the cable comes out of both ear pieces as well. But these are minor grievances, especially at this price. It is obvious why these have lasted so long in the market and are still made and sold today(26 years, unchanged); they are excellent portable headphones. ... More
Best portable headphones!
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Kevin on B&H Photo Video
Originally I used various $200 IEMs and earbuds, but absolutely love the Portapros! Great soundstage and imaging, very nice bass(but not overpowering!), durable, and stays on your ear when jogging! Super excellent value; easily beats some more expensive headphones. Only con maybe the looks. I like it, many friends like it, but I've read many people do not. If you have a little bit longer hair, it's really hard to notice anyways.
too little whiz and a lot of bang
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by gvasques on B&H Photo Video
when I bought my first pair of koss portapros in london in the early 90s, I was told it had the best frequency range and sound quality for the lowest price possible. 20 years on, having tried various sets in a NY shop, I was surprised to see that snazzier sets either didn't compare in the quality department or were way pricier. yet again I would go for what I described as the basic portapro model. but as the salesperson would mysteriously put it: 'there is nothing basic about this set of earphones.'
Great, but not for high frequencies
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed by Gregory on B&H Photo Video
These headphones have great bass & mid frequency reproduction, but the high end is lacking. I wanted these for listening to music, not for monitoring purposes. I noticed immediately that there was a veil over instruments that are supposed to be bright and harsh like drum cymbals. So..just to double check to see if i was wrong, i did a comparison of my own acoustic instruments using some chimes that i have. I took my chimes and my handheld recorder into my bathroom where the reverb accentuates their brightness & harshness. Doing a comparison with what my ears were hearing versus what i was monitoring through my recorder & also through my usual in ear headphones, these PortPros are not for me! If you need headphones but dont care for, or dont want to, or cant hear sounds in the high frequency spectrum...then these cans are for you. ... More
Unbelieveable!
Koss PortaPro Stereo Headphones
Reviewed on B&H Photo Video
Better sound than $200+ headphones! I was torn between Beats by Dre Solo, a pair of Sennheisers, Bose, or Koss portapro. Having listened to all except,the portapro, I choose the portapro's. I will be sticking with these headphones for life! Every sound produced is amazing, and the bass response is way above other phones! Buy them, more than worth it! You won't believe what you paid for them after you listen.
